Reflections.
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- Paul_Tyerman
- Gary
- asterix
- Judy2
- RobertHamilton
- Gary
- RoundRob
- robertquest
- Colin_hort
- Gary
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» Paul_Tyerman - Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy New Year
In response to message posted by RobertHamilton:Rob,
I hope you got a goodly amount, particularly that you got some GENTLE runoff which helped the dam. I am not wishing torrential rain on you that fills your dam but washes everything else away 
.
-- posted by Paul_Tyerman
» Gary - Happy New Year
In response to message posted by Paul_Tyerman:thanks for the gif Mary.
<img SRC="http://www.suite101.com/files/topics/306..."align= reports,
The New year started off well with goodly rains.
This afternoon a silly old git, not me; ran into our new fence.
-- posted by Gary
» asterix - Re:Reflections
In response to message posted by Gary:Firstly commiserations on the damage to your new fence, things could be worse,you could live near me and then you really would have to worry about damage, my reversing of late has cost me plenty in repairs to my car.
As for mulches, well I've used both chopped lucerne hay and pea straw at different times with disastrous results, the weeds that came up were a nightmare to remove, I wish seed I have planted grew so well. I didn't like the look of rice hulls when I tried that,there was no weed problem but it wasn't attractive on my large beds and it did blow away. I now use what is sold as euchi-mulch,no weed problem, it looks good and breaks down slowly, the disadvantage is fresh euchi-mulch stains the fingers ,not a problem for those sensible enough to remember the garden gloves. I worry about nitrogen deficiency so I top up with a light application of a general fertiliser and this works quite well for me.
As for small gardens,I shudder at how small the new blocks being sold for housing are these days,I don't think there is enough room for a small tree for shade once a house has been built let alone a nice garden with a little space to move.The houses going up on these blocks seem to be very large and out of proportion but thats just my opinion I guess,
-- posted by asterix
» RobertHamilton - Mulches
In response to message posted by Gary:Sorry to hear about the fence Gary.
I am doing some agonising on what to use as a mulch on our new bed for summer dormant bulbs. We have used pine bark in the general garden , pea straw on the vegie patch (now mostly peas !!) and lately the by- product of the huge wattle which blew down at my surgery a couple of months ago. The latter was the chopped up smaller branches and has proved to be quite attractive and reasonably resistant to removal by wind - an important consideration when one lives at the end of the roaring 40's.
I have considered using pebbles or crushed rock and am interested to hear your negative comments Gary. I quite liked the look of the quartz pebbles RR used on one of his beds.
I have also wondered about leaving mulch off all together because the bulbs going in the new bed all enjoy a dry summer rest and a mulch will slow the drying process. Then again its easy to manage the weeds in the middle of summer when full of enthusiasm planting a new bed - but that enthusiasm for pulling weeds will not be so great in 6 months time.
I will be interested to hear more ideas.
-- posted by RobertHamilton
» RoundRob - Re: Re: Mulches
In response to message posted by Gary:I haven't found birds at all attracted to the gravel I use - too much hard work when there are other areas with easy forage. Nor does the wind shift it - if it did I'd buy a coarser grade and scatter it over the top. How much wind does your garden get Gary? Would boulders make a heavy enough mulch?
It does make a good seed-bed for wind-blown seeds like willowherb and the rushes which come across from the river mouth, but I'd get them anyway. It certainly encourages pulsatilla vulgaris, ornamental thymes and the like to sprout. When I have choicer plants (!) I'll be deliberately laying it under them to encourage a little self-seeding.
The quartz is an unsympathetic colour for some flowers I admit- white and pale pink rhodohypoxis are lost in it, for example. I've said before that I'd rather have crushed brick or the like.
I don't think this is a case of one answer fits all though. My soil is needy - I'm buying in the cheapest, quickest-disappearing, wood mulch I can for most of it - but then I (hope to) grow fewer sun-lovers than woodlanders.
RR
-- posted by RoundRob
» robertquest - Re: Mulches
In response to message posted by Gary:howdy all,
I top all my bulb beds with ordinary potting mix.
Unlike you Gary, I do not inter-plant, so when all are dormant I can easily spray and unwanted weeds. I have tried fine gravel and find it looks off when you plant into it. Our red soils make an awful mark. I tended to like the lighter shades of gravel. Now home brand potting mix tops most areas planted. That's my 2 cents for the evening.
-- posted by robertquest
» Colin_hort - happy new year
happy new year to all and sundry. hope this year finds you growing well and with water.-- posted by Colin_hort
-- posted by Gary
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